Movable partition systems



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 D. A. BROWN ETAL MOVABLEI PARTITION SYSTEMS ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1964 Filed Jan. l2, 1962 Y En all March 17, 1964 D. A. BROWNETAL. 3,125,193

MOVABLE PARTITION SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.DONALD A. BROWN A-rToQNe/s.

LuclEN R. DowNmG, JR.

Mardi 17, 1.964 D. A. BROWN ETAL MovABLE PARTITION sysTEMs 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. l2, 1962 INVENTOR.

' DONALD A. BROWN LuclsN R. Dowmuc, JR. VBY www,

ATTORNEYS.

D. A. BROWN ETAL 3,125,193

MOT/ABLE PARTITION SYSTEMS March 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan.12, 1962 y INVENTOR. Dow/n.0 ,4. BRaw/v v BY Luc/EN /Dow/vum, JR.

ATTORNEYS,

United States Patent O 3,125,193 MOI/ABLE PARTITION SYSTEMS Donald A.Brown, Westlake, and Lucien R. Downing, Ir.,

Sheffield Lake, Ohio, assignors to Donn Products incorporated, Westlake,Ohio, a corporation of Ghio` Filed ta-n. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 165,834 8Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates generally to improvements inmovable partition systems and more particularly to an improvedself-supporting frame for releasably supporting a panel to provide amovable partition.

In conventional movable partition systems the panel supporting frame isassembled by fastening a plurality of frame members in supportingrelation to each other and to the panel. The load is distributed overall of the frame members and prevents independent removal of individualframe members or panels without dismantling the frame. The conventionalframe is not self-supporting and requires independent fastening devicesfor assembly and disassembly. As a consequence, assembly and disassemblyis a complex and time-consuming task and the cost of the partition isincreased by the fastening devices required.

Briefly, in accordance with this invention, the cost of the partitionand the complexity and time for assembly and disassembly are materiallyreduced by providing a self-supporting frame which can be readilyassembled without independent fastening devices by means of releasableinterlocking portions. The panels are freely supported by integralportions on opposed frame members which readily release the panels uponremoval of one of such opposed frame members from the assembled frame.The removable panel supporting 4frame member carries extensible portionswhich releasably interlock with transversely disposed opposed framemembers. As a result, none of the frame members is required to supportor distribute any load except the panels which form the movablepartition. The removable frame member can be multiplied successivelyalong a multiple panel partition and permit selective assembly anddisassembly of any panel set of the multiple panel partition.

In the annexed drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention which for exemplary purposes is adapted to be employedas a wall extending from the ceiling to the iloor. While it is shown inthe preferred embodiment as a double wall, it is to be understood thatthe principles of this invention may be employed as well with singlepanel wall or partition members as well as double wall or partitionmembers. Also, while the wall members shown in the annexed drawings haveframe members which are atlixed, respectively, to the ceiling and to thefloor, it is to be understood that the principles of the presentinvention are applicable as well to rail high partition members whichextend only a portion of the distance from the floor to the ceiling.

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially cut-away movable partition system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the movable partition of FIG. 1taken on the line 3--3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a partially assembledmovable wall partition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially cut-away, perspective view, ofcertain components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of certain other components ofa preferred embodiment of the present invention,

3,l25,l93 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 ice FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, partiallycut-away and eX- ploded perspective View of components of a modificationof a movable partition system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, partially cut-away, perspective view ofcomponents of another modification in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of one of the frame members of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the frame member of FIG. 9 taken onthe line lil-10 thereof; and

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary, partially cut-away and sectioned, perspectiveview of components useful in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. l, there is here shown inelevation a fragmentary, partially cut-away view, of a section of amovable wall partition system ernbodying the principles of the presentinvention. Accordingly, there is provided a double wall movablepartition system composed of a plurality of front panel members 10 and11 which may be of any convenient Prefabricated material such asdry-wall, plaster board, opaque or translucent plastic, plywood veneer,or the like. Back panels 12 and 13 (FIG. 2) may be of the same ordifferent composition as front panels 10 and 11. Panels 10, 11, 12 and13 may be cut to any desired height or width, and in the embodimentshown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, a convenient Width is 24 inches, and theheight is conveniently the distance between the ceiling and the iloordiminished by the height of an electric raceway 14 and the thickness ofretaining metal parts as hereinafter described.

Secured to a fixed support, e.g. the ceiling, there is provided a framemember 16 which is conveniently a channel, the marginal edges of whichhave been bent to form llanges 17 and 18. At convenient intervalslongitudinally of the channel 16, tongues 19 may be formed, as bypunching, to provide means receptive to a fastener such as screw 20 forfixing the channel 16 to the ceiling. Disposed in vertically spacedparallel relation from the frame member 16 is a second frame member 22having a similar geometric configuration to the channel or frame member16.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, frame member 22 is fixedlysupported by spacer 23, which is in turn iixedly supported by channel 24which is conveniently secured to the floor 25 by any convenientfastening means such as screw 26. By so relating frame member 22 andchannel 24, there is provided an electrical raceway 14 for the inclusionof electrical wiring, outlets, etc. For many purposes, frame member 22may be atlixed directly to the floor without the provision of theintermediate electrical raceway, the means of attachment to such iloorbeing substantially identical with that shown for frame member 16.

In order to provide vertical support for the panels, for example frontand back panels 10 and 12, there is provided a flanged panel supportmember 27 having upstanding marginal flange portions 28 and 29 soadjusted and proportioned as to receive the lower edges of panels 10 and12 to prevent lateral displacement thereof. Support member 27 restsfreely upon frame member 22, and is slidable relative to frame member22. In order to prevent convergent movement of panels 1t) and 12 at thelower marginal portions thereof, there is provided a spacer member inthe form of a spreader clip 30 having displaced marginal flange portions31 and 32 adapted to receive the lower edges of panels 10 and 12separated by a web spacing portion 33 therebetween. In a preferredembodiment, the spacer member 3@ has a dimension between the marginaledges of the depressed flange portions 31 and 32 which is slightlygreater than the web portion of the llanged panel support member 27 soas to be frictionally retained thereby. The combination of the panelsupport member 27 and the spacer member 36 is such that they operativelycoact to provide panel receiving grooves adapted to receive and retainthe lower free edges of panel members and 12 to prevent lateraldisplacement thereof in the regions of such lower marginal edges. Panelmembers of different thicknesses are easily accommodated by adjustingthe web spacing portion 33. It will be observed also that panel members16 and 12, for example, having different thicknesses may also beaccommodated.

Support members 27 have a length which is generally less than thecorresponding dimension of a panel member; being so proportioned todecoratively coact with the ange portion of a stud member 40 to theextent that it overlaps the panel member, e.g. panel member 10 as willbe hereinafter described in greater detail. The outer surfaces ofupturned flange members 28 and 29 of support member 27 may, in certainapplications, be finished so as to provide in combination with the outersurface of panel members 10 and 12, for example, a completed decorativepartition wall surface. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3,anges 23 and 29 diverge slightly, and are thus able to receive andretain a metal base board or cover plate 34 on either side to cover theelectrical raceway 14. Cover plates 34 are part of the final trim, andare removed before the partition system is itself moved to occupy theposition of the dotted lines shown in FIG. 2 to allow for changing ofpanels 10 and 12, for example, or to initiate removal of the entirepartition assembly. Such movement depends upon the relative slidabilityof support member 27 over frame member 22. Spacer members may alsoconveniently be used at the upper marginal edges of panels 10 and 12 torestrain lateral converging movement of the upper marginal portions ofsuch panels.

The exemplary wall partions of the present invention in addition toutilizing the first pair of frame members 16 and 22 disposed invertically spaced parallel relation also utilize a second pair ofvertical frame members and 41 disposed in parallel spaced relationtransverse to the lirst pair of frame members for coaction therewith toform a regular geometric frame assembly which is adapted to receive andrigidly support a panel member or members therein. With reference toFIGS. l, 2 and 3, the second pair of frame members includes verticalstud members 40 and 41 disposed in spaced parallel relation. FIGS. 9 andl0 show in greater detail such a stud member with features forreleasably receiving and engaging opposite edges of a panel member, suchas panel 10.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is provided a studmember of substantially I cross-section having an intermediate webportion with transverse flange portions 51 and 52 along opposed marginaledges. The stud member shown in FIG. 9 and 10 is especially constructedto releasably receive and engage on each side one edge of each of twopanel members, such as panels 10 and 12, to form a double wallpartition. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, this is accomplishedby forming from the web portion 50 a plurality of detents, e.g. 55, 56,57 and 5S. Such detents are formed in spaced parallel relation from thecorresponding marginal flange portions 51 and 52 a distance at the web56 which is substantially equal to the thickness of the correspondingedge of the panel or panels. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG.9, the pair of detents 55 and 56 are struck in such a manner as toextend toward the viewer from the plane of the web 50, and the pair ofdetents 57 and 58 are struck in the opposite direction away from theviewer. Thus, while alternate pairs of detents are deformed to oppositesides of the web 5t) in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 andl0, any suitable pattern of deformation of the detents may be made toprovide for releasable engagement of panel edges at both sides of theweb portion 5t). Each extremity of the web 50 is cut-out as at 62 and 63to' receive and engage a corresponding frame member 16 and 22respectively.

In order to facilitate movability of the partition section as shown bythe dotted lines in FIG. 2, the detents in their preferred form are eachfurther deformed towards their free extremities away from thecorresponding ange portion to increase the spacing therebetween, as bestshown in FIG. l0. The pair of detents 60 and 61 are here shown indiverging relation with respect to the corresponding adjacent angeportions and towards their respective extremities. It has been foundthat such further deformation of the detents towards their extremitiescoacts with the corresponding panels to guide their edges into seatingengagement against the web 56, and the resiliency of the detents aidsnot only in assembly of the partition section but also permits widerdisplacement of the partition section from the normal plane of thepartition as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2 without injury to thepanel members.

In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. l and 2, at least one of the secondpair of frame members or studs 46 is provided with movable extensions 65and 66 for releasable interlocking coaction with the first pair of framemembers 16 and 22 as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. For convenience, likereference numerals will be used in FIGS. 5 and 6 to designate like partsappearing in FIGS. l, 2 and 3 and it will further be understood that theextension member 66 is identical to the member 65 which will behereinafter described in greater detail.

Like the stud 40, the extension member 65 has a web portion 67 withmarginal flange portions 68 and 69. The extension member 65 is slidablyretained in the upper extremity of stud 40 by interlocking coactionbetween the flanges 68 and 69 thereof and reversely folded edges 70 and71 of anges 51 and 52 respectively of stud 4t?. In the preferredembodiment shown, flanges 63 and 69 diverge slightly toward their freeedges so that when inserted from the free upper extremity of stud 40 thediverging flanges 68 and 69 will be slightly compressed by flanges 51and 52 of the stud 40.

Extension member 65 is also provided with a cut-out portion 72 in itsweb 67 dening legs 73 and 74 which are adapted to embrace frame member16 and coact therewith when extended to restrain lateral movement ofstud 40. When the extension members 65 and 66 are retracted, stud member46 may be displaced laterally and disengaged from frame 16. A laterallydisplaced portion of the web 67 at the inner extremity of the cut-outportion 72 coacts to limit extension 0f member 65 as well as to restrainlateral movement of stud 40 in the plane of the supported panels. Stop75 may be reversely deformed from the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 soas to form an abutment for slidable member 65 against the correspondingcut-out portion 62 or 63 (FIG. 9) in web 50. In such position, the stopmember 75 will not only serve to limit the amount of extension ofslidable member 65 by abutment against frame member 16, but will alsolimit the extent of retraction of slidable member 65 by abutment againstweb 56. In order to facilitate sliding of extension members 65 and 66,the iianges 68 and 69 may be provided with apertures S6 and 81respectively to receive a nail or other such tool by which the personinstalling the partition system may readily release stud member 40 withrespect to frame member 16. As hereinbefore noted, extension member 66has the identical structure with extension member 65 Vand is slidablyseated in the lower extremity of stud il for interlocking releasableengagement with frame member 22 in the same manner as described abovewith respect to extension member 65.

FIGS. 4, 7, 8 )and ll illustrate various ways of enhancing thestructural features iof the present invention in order to achieveadditional useful and decorative eects. FIG. 7 shows a borrowed lightassembly; FIG. 8 shows a standard base land door jamb assembly; FIG. 1lshows the details of a preferred setting for a transparent member such-as glass in an `adaptor for coaction in a partition wall; and FIG. 4illustrates the use of stud members of the type shown in FIG. 9 withoutthe extension members 65 and 66.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 4, there is here shown a stud member4001) interlocked over frame member 22 01) and releasably retaining apanel member 10 01). In order to provide for retention of the baseboardmember 3401), there is conveniently provided a clip 82 of substantiallyL-shape over which the baseboard member 3401) may be hooked forretention thereon. The arrangement of FIG. 4 may be employed to providea fixed section or sections in a wall partition system.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the structures of the present inventionto accommodate transparent panels. There is here provided a stud member40(b) releasably retaining panels (b) and 12(11). At a convenient level,another frame member 82 having the same configuration as stud member 40,has been disposed along the upper edges of the panels at right angles tostud member 40(b). superimposed over the exposed web portions S3 and 50of members 82 and 40(b) respectively, are glazing molding members 84 and85 each having the same cross-sectional conguration. Molding 84 is thusprovided with a `web portion 86 having a grouting receiving groove 87formed integrally therein. The marginal edges of the molding 84 havebeen deformed toprovide marginal flanges 88 and S9 (FIG. ll). Flanges S8and 89 are preferably provided with reversely folded portions 90 and 91,respectively, which are adapted to be snapped under and retained by thereversely folded edges of iiange portions 5101) and 52.(b). Groove 87is, as indicated above, adapted to receive and retain grouting,different forms of which are shown in FIGS. 7 and l1.

In FIG. 7, the plastic grouting is composed of a pair of similarlyshaped extruded plastic members 93 and 94, each of which has a land orshoulder 95 adapted to serve as a seat for the edge of a glass panel 96.Grouting members 94 and 93 have a generally L-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration, and are so proportioned with respect to the groove 87 andthe thickness of the glass panel 96 that when in assembled condition,the thickness of the glass panel 96 is such as to exert compressiveforces on grouting members 93 and 94 thereby insuring strong frictionalretention of the assembly by the groove 87.

Vertical stud 400) is provided with an extensible member 6701) ofsimilar web and flange construction to member 67 with the exception thatit is provided with a web flange 7501) for seating against and boltingto web 83 instead of a eut-out portion 72 and legs 73 and 74 as showninFIG. 5.

In FIG. 11, a different form of plastic grouting is shown wherein therespective pair of grouting members have different cross-sectionalconfiguration, but which coact together and with the glass panel 9601)to ixedly retain the glass panel 9601) in the groove S7. Theinterlocking grouting assembly is composed of a first extruded plasticgrouting member 100 having a web 101, a glass engaging flange 102 formedfrom one marginal edge of said web 101, a groove engaging flange 103formed at an opposed marginal edge of said web 101, a longitudinalshoulder 104 parallel to said opposed marginal anges 102 and 103, and anintermediately'disposed iiange member 105. Intermediate flange 105,which is also disposed in parallel spaced relationship with respect toflanges 102 and 103, is provided on one surface thereof with alongitudinal ridge 106 which is adapted to engage in interlockingrelationship with a corresponding ridge 107 formed on the flange 108 ofthe coacting grouting member 109. Coacting grouting member 109 is alsoan extruded plastic material having a generally C-shape and comprising aweb portion 110, marginal boundaries of which have been bent to formopposed parallel spaced anges 111 and 108. Flange 111 is adapted toengage the opposite side of glass panel 9601) in clamping relationshipwith flange 102 of grouting member 100. When glass panel 9601) is inposition as shown in FIG. 11, the thickness of the glass panel 96 01)exerts a compressive force against the anges 102 and 111 which in turnfurther insures the stability of the interlocking relationship betweenridges 106 and 107 above described. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11,the free edge of ange 103 may be bifurcated as shown at 112 to improveretention by the side wall of groove S7.

As previously noted, FIG. 8 illustrates the manner in which thestructures of the present invention may be employed to provide for adoor or passage-way through the partition wall. Accordingly, there isshown a stud member 40(c) disposed against a generally U-shaped doorjamb 120, the web portion 121 of which is provided with a shoulder 122to form a stop for a door (not shown). Door jamb member is convenientlyaffixed to stud member 40 by any suitable means such as a metal screw123. Instead of a screw 123, the member 120 may be aixed by folding overdetents, e.g. detents 55 and 56 in FIG. 9 to engage and retain flanges124 thereunder.

Assembly of the movable partition systems of the present invention isextremely simple and provides one of the major advantages of the systemin reducing cost and time of installation. Installation of a movablepartition from ceiling to oor is easily accomplished by first installingframe members 16, 22 and 24 as shown in FIG. l. Frame member 24 need notbe used and frame member 22 may be bolted directly to the floor unlessit is desired to include an electrical raceway 14. When parallel opposedframe members 16 and 22 have been placed, a terminal stud 41 is put intoplace. The terminal stud may be like the stud shown in FIG. 9 or maycarry extension members 65 and 66 which are positioned to interlock withframe members 16 and 22, respectively. Thereafter, panel support members27 is superimposed upon frame member 22, and the desirable number ofspaced members 30 seated therein in the manner hereinbefore described.Panel members 10 and 12 are then placed in position in the assembly andadditional spacer members 30 disposed along with the upper marginaledges of the panels 10 and 12. Panels 10 and 12 are then seated againstthe web portion of stud 41, being guided into proper position by meansof detents 55 and 56. At this stage of assembly, the double wallpartition, comprised of panels 10 and 12 resting in support member 27,may be rotated through a few degrees as shown by the dotted lines inFIG. 2 to displace the assembly from the ultimate wall line which thepartition is to follow. This is convenient in the nal assembly of theclosing partition section and enables the preservation of a completelyuniform and decorative wall surface without special treatment toaccommodate the extremities of a partition section.

Stud member 40 may then be emplaced and seated against the free verticaledges of panels 10 and 12, respectively. Extension members 65 and 66 areretained in their retracted position until stud member 40 has beenproperly located between frame members 16 and 22, at which time, bymeans of a suitable tool, the extension members 65 and 66 are extendedto embrace frame members 16 and 22. This operation is repeated until amultiple section partition wall is completed; use being made of theremovable feature of the panel panel members in order to secure thefinal enclosure of the partition section. When the panels and studmembers are all in place, final trim members 34 and 42 may be added tocomplete the partition wall systems as best shown in FIG. l.

As indicatedabove, the partition wall system of the present inventionneed not be used solely for the purpose of dividing a given area, butmay be used also as a wall finishing system. For example, it may beern-` ployed as a wall nishing system for a recreation room where theoriginal wall surface is concrete block, brick or other material ofconstruction normally found in the basement of a family residence. Insuch event, it is not necessary to use a pair of panels l@ and 12, onlyone such surface being necessary. lt should also be pointed out that thepositioning of the detents need not be precisely that which is shown inFIG. 9. Instead of having transversely aligned pairs of detents as shownin FIG. 9, the detents may appear in staggered relation, such as by theutilization of detents S and 53 and the omission of detents S6 and S7.While it is desirable that the detents shall be alternately deformed toopposite sides of the web Sti, in the case of a terminal stud member thedetents may all be deformed to the same side of the web 50. Likewise,where only a single panel is to be used, a line of detents along thevertical line detents 55 and 57 of FIG. 9 may be used, and detents inthe position shown for detents 55 and 5S of FIG. 9 are entirely omitted.

When it is desired to remove the wall or partition system of the presentinvention, the process of assembly is merely reversed, and since Aformost purposes there are no nails,vbolts or the like holding the partstogether, disassembly is very quickly effected without damage so thatthe same parts can be reused in reassembly of the partition system at anew location. This is accomplished by retracting the extension members65 and 66 on the stud 40 in FIG. 1 and removing the stud 4t) from theassembly; followed by removal of the panels and other parts. If desired,sections of a continuous partition wall system may be selectivelyremoved to form doorways or to be replaced by another section.

Other modes of applying the principle of this invention may be employedinstead of those specifically set forth above, changes being made asregards the details herein disclosed provided the elements set forth inany of the following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed.

It is, therefore, particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as theinvention:

l. In a movable partition system having a pair of frame members disposedin spaced parallel relation, a second pair of frame members disposed inparallel spaced relation transverse to said rst pair of frame membersand coacting therewith to form a regular geometric frame assemblyadapted tot receive and removably support a panel member therein, theimprovement wherein each of said second pair of `frame members includesa web having bilaterally extending flange portions along at least onemarginal edge and having integral means for releasably receiving andengaging opposite edges of said panel member, respectively, and meansslidably carried at at least one extremity fof said each of said secondpair of frame members for releasable interlocking coiaction with theadjacent member of said iirst pair of frame members, said movableinterlocking means including a member having a web including a cut-outportion of the web adapted to receive and engage the adjacent fnamemember of said first pair of frame members and coacting when extended torestrain movement transverse to the plane of said partition and whenretracted to permit movement transverse to said plane.

2. The movable partition system of claim 1 wherein said releasable panelengaging means includes integral resilient detent means formed from saidwebs in spaced relation to each other along la `line parallel to theflange portions and spaced therefrom a distance at the Web substantiallyequal to the thickness of a panel member, each said detent means beingdeformed towards its extremity away from the adjacent flange portion toincrease the spacing therebetween and thereby coact resiliently to guidethe edge of a panel into seating engagement against the web.

3. In a movable partition system having a pair of frame .membersdisposed in spaced parallel relation, a

second pair of frame members disposed in spaced parallel relationtransverse to said first pair of frame members and coacting therewith toform a regular geometric frame assembly adapted to receive and support apair of panels in spaced parallel planes therein, the improvement whichcomprises each of said second pair of frame members including a webhaving parallel bilaterally extending flange portions along oppositemarginal edges of the web and having integral means for releasablyreceiving and engaging opposite edges of each of said panel members,respectively, the panel engaging means on each of said second pair offrame members being spaced apart transverse to the plane of said panelsto maintain said panels in spaced relation, and means slidably carriedat each extremity of said at least one of said second pair of framemembers for releasable interlocking coaction with the correspondingmembers of said first pair, each of said slidable interlocking meansincluding a member having a web including a cut-out portion of the webadapted to receive land engage the adjacent frame member of said firstpair of frame members and coacting when extended to restrain movementout of the plane of the partition and to provide a rigid panelsupporting frame adapted to be movable disassembled npon release of saidmovable interlocking means.

4. The movable partition system of claim 3 wherein said releasable panelengaging means includes a plurality of integral detent means formed fromsaid webs each in spaced relation from each other along lines parmlel toeach of the corresponding ilange portions and spaced therefrom adistance at the web substantially equal to the thickness of thecorresponding panel, said detent means each lbeing deformed towardstheir extremities away from the corresponding flange portions toincrease the spacing therebetween and thereby coact to guide the edge ofthe corresponding panel into seating engagement against the web.

5. The movable partition system of claim 4 wherein said movableinterlocking means includes a member having a web with flange portionsat the marginal edges slidably seated on each extremity of said at leastone of said second pair of frame members, said slidable members eachhaving a cut-out portion of the web adapted to receive and engage thecorresponding members of said rst pair of frame members and coactingwhen extended to restrain movement out of the plane of said portion andwhen retracted to permit removal of said at least one of said secondpair of sai-d frame members and the panels from the formerly rigid fnameassembly.

6. The movable partition system of claim 3 wherein said movableinterlocking means includes a member slidably carried at each extremityof said at least one of said second pair of yframe members tand coactingIwhen extended to restrain relative movement between said first pair offrame members and said at least one of said second pair of framemembers, and when retracted to permit removal of said at least one `ofsaid second pair of 'frame members and the panels from the formerlyrigid frame assembly.

7. An extensible frame member for engaging and supporting one edge of apanel in la rigid frame assembly comprising a main web portion havingparallel bilaterally extending marginal ange portions each monolateraliyextending parallel pair of which is adapted to coact as an abutmentrespectively for one side of a pair of panels disposed in spacedparallel planes, a plurality `of individual detent portions integrallyformed from said web portion in spaced relation from each other along aline parallel to each flange portion and spaced therefrom a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of the corresponding panel thedetent portions adjacent each ange portion adapted to coact -asresilient abutments respectively for the other side of one of a pair ofpanels disposed 'm spaced parallel planes, yeach of said detent portionsbeing deformed towards its extremity away from the corresponding flangeportion to increase the spacing therebetween and thereby coact to guidethe edge of the corresponding panel into seating engagement against theweb portion, separate complementary slidable interlocking frame membersand including a web having a cut-out portion of the web, and alsoincluding marginal flange portions slidably seated `in the main Webportion at at least one extremity and adapted to form a telescopicallyYslidable extension thereof, the liange portions on said main Webportion having reversely bent edges for receiving and guiding thecorresponding marginal ange portions on said separate frame members.

`8. The frame member of claim 7 wherein the web portion of each separatecomplementary frame member is bent out of the plane of the Web adjacentthe innermost edge of said out out portion to provide a laterallyextending stop member to restrain movement relative to a complementaryframe member in a plane parallel to the plane of the web.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McElhenyFeb. 27, Whittredge Nov. 22, Bohnsack Aug. 19, Snead Mar. 20, Robinsonet al. Apr. 23, Manske May 7, Price Oct. 6, Venzie Apr. 27, De VigierApr. 22, Marshall Aug. 3, Englehart Sept. 4, Pollock Apr. 22, Levy Jan.311, Foster May 30, Bohnsack Feb. 6,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 13,

1. IN A MOVABLE PARTITION SYSTEM HAVING A PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS DISPOSEDIN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION, A SECOND PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS DISPOSED INPARALLEL SPACED RELATION TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERSAND COACTING THEREWITH TO FORM A REGULAR GEOMETRIC FRAME ASSEMBLYADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND REMOVABLY SUPPORT A PANEL MEMBER THEREIN, THEIMPROVEMENT WHEREIN EACH OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS INCLUDES AWEB HAVING BILATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTIONS ALONG AT LEAST ONEMARGINAL EDGE AND HAVING INTEGRAL MEANS FOR RELEASABLY RECEIVING ANDENGAGING OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID PANEL MEMBER, RESPECTIVELY, AND MEANSSLIDABLY CARRIED AT AT LEAST ONE EXTREMITY OF SAID EACH OF SAID SECONDPAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS FOR RELEASABLE INTERLOCKING COACTION WITH THEADJACENT MEMBER OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS, SAID MOVABLEINTERLOCKING MEANS INCLUDING A MEMBER HAVING A WEB INCLUDING A CUT-OUTPORTION OF THE WEB ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND ENGAGE THE ADJACENT FRAMEMEMBER OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS AND COACTING WHEN EXTENDED TORESTRAIN MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO THE PLANTE OF SAID PARTITION AND WHENRETRACTED TO PERMIT MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO SAID PLANE.